Desert Canyon Middle School

10203 E Mcdowell Mtn Ranch Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
(School attendance zone shown in map)
9/
10
Top 20%
Serving 490 students in grades 6-8, Desert Canyon Middle School ranks in the top 20% of all schools in Arizona for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 20%, and reading proficiency is top 20%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 56% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 35%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 56% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 40%).
The student:teacher ratio of 16:1 is lower than the Arizona state level of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 28% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Arizona state average of 65% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: 6-8
  • Enrollment: 490 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 28%
  • : Top 20% in AZ
  • : 56% (Top 20%)
  • : 56% (Top 20%)
  • : 45-49% (Top 20%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Desert Canyon Middle School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Arizona for:

School Overview

Desert Canyon Middle School's student population of 490 students has declined by 5% over five school years.
The teacher population of 30 teachers has grown by 11% over five school years.
School Type
Grades Offered
Grades 6-8
Total Students
490 students
This chart displays total students of Desert Canyon Middle School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Gender %
This chart displays gender of Desert Canyon Middle School
Total Classroom Teachers
30 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Desert Canyon Middle School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Desert Canyon Middle School by grade.

School Rankings

Desert Canyon Middle School ranks within the top 20% of all 1,956 schools in Arizona (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Desert Canyon Middle School is 0.46, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.66. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School
State Level (AZ)
#316 out of 1956 schools
(Top 20%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Desert Canyon Middle School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
56%
35%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
56%
40%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
45-49%
24%
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
17:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Desert Canyon Middle School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
American Indian
1%
5%
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Desert Canyon Middle School and percentage of American Indian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Asian
7%
3%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hispanic
13%
47%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Black
4%
6%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of Black public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
White
72%
35%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of White public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
3%
4%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
All Ethnic Groups
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Desert Canyon Middle School.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of public school students of all ethnic groups in Arizona.
0.46
This chart displays the diversity score of Desert Canyon Middle School and the public school average diversity score of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Free Lunch
11%
39%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
4%
7%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Desert Canyon Middle School's ranking?
Desert Canyon Middle School is ranked #316 out of 1,956 schools, which ranks it among the top 20% of public schools in Arizona.
What schools are Desert Canyon Middle School often compared to?
Desert Canyon Middle Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Mountainside Middle School, Cheyenne Traditional School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
56% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 35% AZ state average), while 56% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 40% AZ state average).
How many students attend Desert Canyon Middle School?
490 students attend Desert Canyon Middle School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
72% of Desert Canyon Middle School students are White, 13% of students are Hispanic, 7% of students are Asian, 4% of students are Black, 3% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are American Indian.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Desert Canyon Middle School?
Desert Canyon Middle School has a student ration of 16:1, which is lower than the Arizona state average of 17:1.
What grades does Desert Canyon Middle School offer ?
Desert Canyon Middle School offers enrollment in grades 6-8
What school district is Desert Canyon Middle School part of?
Desert Canyon Middle School is part of Scottsdale Unified District (4240) School District.
In what neighborhood is Desert Canyon Middle School located?
Desert Canyon Middle School is located in the North Scottsdale neighborhood of Scottsdale, AZ. There are 3 other public schools located in North Scottsdale.

School Reviews

Review Desert Canyon Middle School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:

  • Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
  • Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Rate this school:

Recent Articles

Drug Testing Teachers: Testing Positive or Negative?
Drug Testing Teachers: Testing Positive or Negative?
This article examines the ongoing debate about drug testing for teachers in public schools. It discusses the rationale behind such policies, privacy concerns, cost implications, and the relatively low prevalence of drug use among educators. The piece also explores future considerations for drug testing policies in educational settings.
Head in the Clouds: Why Public Schools are Embracing Cloud Computing
Head in the Clouds: Why Public Schools are Embracing Cloud Computing
Explore how public schools are integrating cloud computing into their educational frameworks. Understand the advantages such as enhanced collaboration, cost savings, and accessibility, as well as the challenges schools face in adopting this technology.
Understanding Rubrics
September 27, 2024
Understanding Rubrics
This article explores the fundamental principles of rubrics in education, focusing on their role as assessment tools. It breaks down the key components of rubrics, including criteria, performance levels, and descriptors. The piece also delves into the two main types of rubrics - holistic and analytic - providing authoritative definitions and explaining their unique applications in educational settings.

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: 6-8
  • Enrollment: 490 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 28%
  • : Top 20%
  • : 56% (Top 20%)
  • : 56% (Top 20%)
  • : 45-49% (Top 20%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education

Related School Videos

Quick Links